But the problem was never the points per se. Rather, it’s about the strong pull of psychological riptides that could develop, about the jeopardy of mounting pressure and what it could do to the reach for Brazil 2014, about the media holler for Jurgen Klinsmann’s job that would surely rise, adding further tangle and distraction.

The looming red-tinged hue of a defeat next week, more than the black-and-white of three points from victory in the six-team table, makes the Costa Rican clash so crucial.

Then there’s the case of Michael Bradley, who isn’t starting lately for Roma. The U.S. midfield general appeared as a sub two weeks ago but was suspended for last week’s draw with Udinese. Roma meets Parma on Sunday.

Any concerns over full fitness (cardiovascular fitness, that is, not just full health) are exacerbated by the contest’s location, at 5,000 feet above sea level in the Denver suburb of Commerce City.